Package with aligned discs on opposite covers

ABSTRACT

A package for housing two discs including a cover forming an elongated spine panel with first and second opposing panels extending therefrom such that the opposing panels selectively rotate between open and closed postions. First and second partial trays attach to the first and second opposing panels, respectively, and are laterally spaced so that when closed, the thickness of the package is approximately equal to that of one of the trays. Each partial tray has a planar surface forming a periphery and a recess, a rosette near a first side of the tray for engaging a central aperture to retain a disc within the recess and a spacing rim upstanding from the planar surface. The spacing rim is U-shaped so that in the closed position, the spacing rims do not overlap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application60/666,648, filed Mar. 30, 2005, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a closable storage packagefor a recording medium and, more particularly, to a package comprising apaper board cover assembled to multiple plastic disc holders for storingmultiple discs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of planar discs are in use at the present time to recordand store information which is to be retrieved by various means, such asby optical or magnetic means. Typical of such discs are compact discs inwhich information is digitally recorded by use of a laser beam and thenread optically by a laser beam. Such discs are used to record audioinformation, such as musical renditions, video information such asvisual images and digital information for use as read only and othermemories for use in various applications, such as computer applications.In most instances, at the present time, such discs are sold withinformation already recorded thereon. In other applications, such discsare sold in blank form and are used by the customer to recordinformation thereon. In the latter case, for example, optical discs aresold for use as computer storage media and are used in hard disc storagesystems. As used herein, the term compact disc, CD or disc is intendedto encompass all such discs, whatever their size, for all known orproposed uses.

Compact discs containing laser recorded information are typicallypackaged in injection molded plastic enclosures designed to hold one ormore CDs for protecting the discs during storage and shipment.Enclosures commonly used at the present time, such as the well known“jewel box,” comprise a three piece assembly consisting of a base orbottom element, an insert or tray in the base/bottom element forpositioning and supporting the disc in the base/bottom element, e.g., bya center projection (commonly referred to as a “rosette”) which engagesthe periphery of the aperture in the center of the disc, and a lid orcover which is hinged to the base/bottom element and is closed thereonafter the disc is mounted therein on the tray. Other enclosures utilizeonly two pieces, omit the tray, and position and support the disc viathe center projection directly on the base/bottom element. The enclosureis, typically, at least partially transparent and graphics relating tothe disc and containing trademark and sales promotional information areusually inserted in such a manner as to be visible through theenclosure.

Except for the printed matter inserted therein, the “jewel box” isentirely plastic. For this reason, as well as because the typical jewelbox requires three separately injection molded elements which must bemanually assembled, the use of this type of enclosure is relativelyexpensive. Moreover, the use of such an enclosure is believed to beecologically unacceptable by many because the plastic isnon-biodegradable and, in view of the huge volume of such enclosures inuse today, the disposal of these enclosures poses either a real orpotential environmental problem. One solution to both of these problemshas been the development of hybrid packages comprising both paperboardand plastic components. These hybrid packages provide a CD package whichis suitable and attractive for display, sale and storage of compactdiscs, yet which is both simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,812 to Kosterka, which is incorporatedherein by reference, discloses a compact disc package formed from aprescored, preprinted unitary blank and at least one injection moldedplastic compact disc holder or tray adhesively adhered to one segment ofthe blank, the blank being adapted to fold along fold lines to positiona blank segment over the top of the disc holder to sandwich it, in bookstyle, between the segment to which it is adhered and the overlyingsegment. The problem with this type of arrangement is that the bookfrequently opens and provides little protection for the disc therewithin.

When it is desired to have a disc package house multiple discs, it hasbecome common to form a book like package having opposite panelsconnected by a spine panel and to adhesively or mechanically adhere aninjection molded plastic disc holder or tray to each of the facingpanels. In this manner, when the book is closed, the trays seat upon oneanother in face-to-face relationship. Typically the height of upstandingperipheral rims around at least a portion of at least one of the trayslimits the thickness of the book when the book is in the closed positionto assure that the discs on the panels do not contact each other. Theproblem with this sort of arrangement is that the thickness of each traydoubles the thickness of the package as compared to a package containingonly a single disc holder. Such a double thickness package occupies moreretail space than is desirable and is wasteful of plastic material.

It should be apparent, therefore, that efforts to date directed athybrid packaging containing multiple discs suffer from one or moreshortcomings which make the resulting CD packaging unsatisfactory. Thisis because prior art hybrid packaging is, typically, either uneconomicalto manufacture and/or is expensive to transport, store and display inretail stores. Accordingly, there remains a need for a simple,inexpensive to manufacture, inexpensive to ship and displaymultiple-disc hybrid CD package which is reliable for use over the longterm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the subject disclosure to provide a package forholding discs that is relatively thin despite having co-axially aligneddiscs.

It is another object of the subject disclosure to provide a package forholding discs that is easy to manufacture because it has two parts thatare unitary.

It is still another object of the subject disclosure to provide apackage for holding discs that minimizes the required materials.

The present disclosure is directed to a package for housing two discsincluding a cover forming an elongated spine panel with first and secondopposing panels extending therefrom such that the opposing panelsselectively rotate between open and closed positions. First and secondpartial trays attach to the first and second opposing panels,respectively, each partial tray having a planar surface forming aperiphery and a recess, a rosette near a first side of the tray forengaging a central aperture to retain a disc at least partially withinthe recess, and a spacing rim upstanding from the planar surface. Thespacing rim includes a lateral side opposing the first side, and twotransverse sides, wherein in the closed position, the spacing rims donot overlap. Preferably, in the closed position, a thickness of thepackage is approximately equal to the first and second opposing panelsplus a height of the spacing rim of the first partial tray. In furtherembodiments, the recesses are semi-circular and the package has meansfor retaining the package in the closed position.

In another embodiment, the subject disclosure is directed to a packagefor housing two discs including a cover forming an elongated spine panelin a plane with first and second opposing panels extending therefromsuch that the opposing panels selectively rotate between an openposition in which the opposing panels are substantially in the plane anda closed position in which the opposing panels are substantiallyperpendicular to the plane. A first partial tray attaches to the firstopposing panel at a first end. The first partial tray has a planarsurface forming a periphery, a substantially semi-circular recessopening to the periphery on a first side and finger wells opening to therecess, a rosette located centrally within the semi-circular recess forengaging a central aperture of a disc, a spacing rim upstanding from theplanar surface, the spacing rim including a lateral side opposing thefirst side and two transverse sides, the lateral and opposing sidesbeing near the periphery, and a male projection for retaining thepackage closed. Asecond partial tray attaches to the second opposingpanel at a second end opposing the first end. The second partial trayhas a planar surface forming a periphery, a substantially semi-circularrecess opening to the periphery on a first side and finger wells openingto the recess, a rosette located centrally within the semi-circularrecess for engaging a central aperture of a disc such that the rosettesare substantially co-axial in the closed position, a spacing rimupstanding from the planar surface, the spacing rim including a lateralside opposing the first side and two transverse sides, the lateral andopposing sides being near the periphery, and a female receptacle forengaging the male projection to selectively retain the package closed.

It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implementedand utilized in numerous ways, including without limitation as aprocess, an apparatus, a system, a device, and a method for applicationsnow known and later developed. These and other unique features of thesystem disclosed herein will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosedsystem appertains will more readily understand how to make and use thesame, reference may be had to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view, of one embodiment of the improved CD package ofthe present invention in its open position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the improved CD package of FIG. 1 inits open position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the improved CD package of FIG. 1 inits closed position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the improved CD package of thepresent invention in its closed position taken along a plane passingparallel to the spine of the package and through the aligned rosettes.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the improved CD package of the presentinvention in its open position.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the improved CD package of the presentinvention in its closed position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the improved CD package of the presentinvention in its closed position taken along a plane passingperpendicular to the spine of the package and through the alignedrosettes.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail view of portion 9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the improved CD package in a mostly,but not completely, open position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention overcomes many of the prior art problemsassociated with CD packages. The advantages, and other features of thepackages disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to thosehaving ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed descriptionof certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawingswhich set forth representative embodiments of the present invention andwherein like reference numerals identify similar structural elementswhenever possible.

All relative descriptions herein such as left, right, up, down, topside,underside and the like are with reference to the Figures, and not meantin a limiting sense. The illustrated embodiments can be understood asproviding exemplary features of varying detail of certain embodiments,and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features, components,modules, elements, and/or aspects of the illustrations can be otherwisecombined, interconnected, sequenced, separated, interchanged,positioned, and/or rearranged without materially departing from thedisclosed systems or methods. Additionally, the shapes and sizes ofcomponents are also exemplary and unless otherwise specified, can bealtered without materially affecting or limiting the disclosedtechnology to holding discs exclusively.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.1-10, in which there is shown an improved CD package 10 for housing twodiscs. In brief overview, the package 10 includes two injection moldedplastic partial trays 12, 14 and a paper board cover 100 which is, inthe preferred embodiment, adhesively attached to each of the trays 12,14 in such a manner that the plastic and paper components form a CDpackage, configured to resemble a book of a substantially single diskpackage thickness, which presents no alignment problems between thetrays when the package is repetitively opened and closed.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-10, tray 12 is a relatively rectangular,thin, plate-like member which is formed with a partial circular recess20 defined by a partial circular side wall 22 extending downwardly fromsurrounding planar surface 24 to base 26. A rosette 28 for gripping a CDand holding it within recess 20 is molded on raised CD seat 30 which,itself, is molded on base 26. Rosette 28 is, typically, a verticalcylindrical section including radically outwardly biased grippingfingers for engaging the central opening of a CD placed thereon. Raisedseat 30 provides a circular surface on which the annular area of the CDwhich is immediately adjacent the central disc aperture can be supportedabove the base 26. This area of the CD typically contains no recordedinformation and, therefore, contact between the CD in this area and theraised seat will not damage the CD. The CD may also be peripherallysupported at its outer edges by a peripheral shelf (not shown) formed incircular sidewall 22. The outer edges of a CD also, typically, containno recorded information in order to provide further assurance thatcontact of the recorded areas of the CD with the tray will be avoided.Planar surface 24 of tray 12 includes finger wells 34 which open to thebase 26 of recess 20 to facilitate a user removing a disc from therecess 20. Recess 22, rosette 28 and finger wells 34 are all well knownin the CD packaging art and need not be described in detail herein.

It is noteworthy that tray 12 is only a partial tray with one lateralside 36 and two connecting transverse sides 40, 42 having upstandingwall portions 36 a, 40 a, 42 a for defining a spacing rim at or justinside the marginal edges of the tray periphery. Wall portions 40 a, 42a extend from wall portion 36 a to a position close to but spaced fromopposite lateral side 38, which has no upstanding wall portion. As willbe seen, when package 10 is closed, the wall portions assure asufficient spacing between a CD mounted on the rosette 28 of tray 12 anda CD mounted on the rosette 28 of tray 14 that neither of the CDs becomedamaged by contact with the other. In addition, a male projection 50rises from planar surface 24 adjacent the free end 40 b of wall portion40 a and a female receptacle 52 is defined in planar surface 24 adjacentthe free end 42 b of wall portion 42 a for engaging with a correspondingfemale/male receptacle/projection on tray 14.

Tray 14 is a relatively thin plate-like member which is substantiallysimilar to tray 12. The configuration and elements of tray 12 applyequally to tray 14 and, therefore, like reference numerals denote likeparts. The only difference is that tray 14 has a female receptacle 54defined in planar surface 24 adjacent the free end 40 b of wall portion40 a for engaging with the male projection 50 on tray 12 when thepackage 10 is closed. In like manner, tray 14 has a male projection 56arising from planar surface 24 adjacent the free end 42 b of wallportion 42 a for engaging with female receptacle 52 on tray 12 whenpackage 10 is closed. As a result, package 10 may be latched in theclosed position when it is desired to do so.

In one embodiment, the engagement of male projection 56 on tray 14 withfemale receptacle 52 on tray 12 is weaker than the engagement of maleprojection 50 on tray 12 with female receptacle 54 on tray 14 (as bymaking projection 56 shorter than projection 50) so that, when theengagement of projection/receptacle 50/54 is overcome to open package10, the engagement of projection/receptacle 56/52 does not interferewith the smooth opening of the package. Indeed, in most instances, theengagement of male projection 50 on tray 12 with female receptacle 54 ontray 14 is itself sufficient to maintain package 10 latched in theclosed position and the engagement of projection 56 with receptacle 52serves to facilitate assembly of the trays 12, 14 to paper board 100, aswill be discussed more fully hereinafter. In another embodiment,projection 56 does not actually engage receptacle 52 but, rather, fitswithin receptacle 52 to serve as an alignment aid between trays 12 and14.

The paper board 100 comprises a plurality of paper panels which aredesirably formed from a presized, pre-printed unitary blank. In oneembodiment of the invention, the blank includes two panels 102, 104 ontowhich the plastic trays 12, 14 are adhesively or mechanically attached,separated by a spine panel 106. Fold lines 108, 110 separate panels 102,104, respectively, from spine panel 106 and allow the panels to bepivoted between package open and package closed positions. The panelsmay be single ply although, in some instances, it may be desirable forone or both of these panels to be two or multiple ply.

To assemble the paper board 100 and trays 12, 14, in a preferredembodiment, first and second trays 12, 14 are assembled to each other bycausing the rosettes 28 to face each other with the free ends 40 b, 42 bof transverse wall portions 40 a, 42 a on each tray adjacent but spacedapart from each other, and with projection 50 of tray 12 and projection56 of tray 14 inserted within, respectively, receptacle 54 of tray 14and receptacle 52 of tray 12. As the rosettes are pressed toward eachother, as can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 8, the projection 50 on tray 12engages receptacle 54 on tray 14 (and, in one embodiment, projection 56on tray 14 engages receptacle 52 on tray 12) to maintain the assembledCD package 10 in the closed position. A plurality of glue posts (notshown) are desirably provided on the underside of each tray forreceiving adhesive. Alternatively, dabs of adhesive are applied directlyto the tray undersides. The adhesive-bearing underside of tray 14 ispressed onto the desired position on panel 104 with the wall portions 42a of the trays adjacent fold line 110, after which the paper board coveris stretched around the spine edge 42 a of the trays and panel 102 ispressed into adhesive contact with the adhesive-bearing underside oftray 12. With the trays dimensioned and configured so that, withrosettes 28 in face-to-face relationship, the free ends 40 b, 42 b oneach tray 12, 14 are adjacent but spaced apart and the projections 50,56 and receptacles 52, 54 are aligned or engaged. Discs (see FIG. 4)mount on the rosettes in a coaxially aligned orientation. The discs,however, do not touch each other because the height of wall portions 36a, 40 a and 42 a is sufficient to avoid their touching.

With reference to FIG. 4, it can be seen that with package 10 in theclosed position, the tops 36 c, 40 c, 42 c of wall portions 36 a, 40 a,42 a of each tray 12, 14 contact the surface of panel 102, 104 to whichthe other tray is mounted. Thus, the height of wall portions 36 a, 40 a,42 a determines the separation between discs 43 mounted on rosettes 28and, when properly selected, assures that the discs 43 do not touch whenpackage 10 is closed.

In one embodiment, each of trays 12, 14 is approximately one half thelength of panels 102, 104 between its lateral sides 102 a,ô and 104 a,b.In this embodiment, wall portions 36 a of trays 12, 14 are positionedclosely adjacent the lateral marginal edges 102 a, 104 b of panels 102,104. In other embodiments, panels 102, 104 may be longer than twice thelength of the trays 12, 14, in which case wall portions 36 a of trays12, 14 are positioned a greater distance inwardly of the lateralmarginal edges 102 a, 104 b of panels 102, 104. Typically, the length ofpanels 102, 104 is at least twice the combined length of trays 12, 14 sothat overlap is generally avoided. Preferably, the trays are sopositioned on panels 102, 104 and the rosettes 28 are so positioned onthe trays that, when package 10 is closed, the free ends 40 b, 42 b oftransverse wall portions 40 a, 42 a of trays 12, 14 are positionedadjacent to, but spaced from, each other and rosettes 28 on each oftrays 12, 14 are in face-to-face relationship. This assures that discs43 mounted on these rosettes are in coaxial alignment.

While the invention has been described with respect to preferredembodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatvarious changes and/or modifications can be made to the inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

1. A package for housing two discs comprising: a) a cover forming anelongated spine panel with first and second opposing panels extendingtherefrom such that the opposing panels selectively rotate between openand closed positions; and b) first and second partial trays attached tothe first and second opposing panels, respectively, each partial trayhaving: i) a planar surface forming a periphery and a recess; ii) arosette near a first side of the tray for engaging a central aperture toretain a disc at least partially within the recess; and iii) a spacingrim upstanding from the planar surface, the spacing rim including alateral side opposing the first side, and two transverse sides, whereinin the closed position, the spacing rims do not overlap.
 2. A package asrecited in claim 1, wherein in the closed position, a thickness of thepackage is approximately equal to the first and second opposing panelsplus a height of the spacing rim of the first partial tray.
 3. A packageas recited in claim 2, wherein the recesses are semi-circular.
 4. Apackage as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for retainingthe package in the closed position.
 5. A package as recited in claim 4,wherein the means is at least one female receptacle formed on the firstpartial tray and at least one male projection formed on the secondpartial tray to engage the at least one female receptacle.
 6. A packageas recited in claim 1, wherein in the closed position, the spacing rimsare laterally spaced with respect to each other.
 7. A package as recitedin claim 1, wherein the cover is paper board and the trays are plastic.8. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein the transverse sides areinterconnected by the lateral side to form a U-shape on each partialtray.
 9. A package as recited in claim 1, wherein the opposing panels,spine panel and partial trays are rectangular.
 10. A package for housingtwo discs comprising: a) a cover forming an elongated spine panel in aplane with first and second opposing panels extending therefrom suchthat the opposing panels selectively rotate between an open position inwhich the opposing panels are substantially in the plane and a closedposition in which the opposing panels are substantially perpendicular tothe plane; b) a first partial tray attached to the first opposing panelat a first end, the first partial tray having: i) a planar surfaceforming a periphery, a substantially semi-circular recess opening to theperiphery on a first side and finger wells opening to the recess; ii) arosette located centrally within the semi-circular recess for engaging acentral aperture of a disc; iii) a spacing rim upstanding from theplanar surface, the spacing rim including a lateral side opposing thefirst side and two transverse sides, the lateral and opposing sidesbeing near the periphery; and iv) a male projection for retaining thepackage closed; and c) a second partial tray attached to the secondopposing panel at a second end opposing the first end, the secondpartial tray having: i) a planar surface forming a periphery, asubstantially semi-circular recess opening to the periphery on a firstside and finger wells opening to the recess; ii) a rosette locatedcentrally within the semi-circular recess for engaging a centralaperture of a disc such that the rosettes are substantially co-axial inthe closed position; iii) a spacing rim upstanding from the planarsurface, the spacing rim including a lateral side opposing the firstside and two transverse sides, the lateral and opposing sides being nearthe periphery; and iv) a female receptacle for engaging the maleprojection to selectively retain the package closed.
 11. A package asrecited in claim 10, further comprising a second male projection on thefirst partial tray and a corresponding second female receptacle on thesecond partial tray such that as the package is closed, the second maleprojection and the second female receptable serve to align the opposingpanels.
 12. A package as recited in claim 11, wherein the the secondmale projection and the second female receptable serve to retain theopposing panels in the closed position.
 13. A package as recited inclaim 10, wherein a height of the spacing rims is substantially equal toa transverse thickness of the spine.
 14. A package as recited in claim10, wherein the transverse sides are interconnected by the lateral sideto form a U-shape on each partial tray
 15. A package as recited in claim10, wherein in the closed position, the spacing rims are laterallyspaced with respect to each other.
 16. A package for housing two discscomprising: a) a paper board cover forming an elongated spine panel in aplane with first and second opposing panels extending therefrom suchthat the opposing panels selectively rotate between an open position inwhich the opposing panels are substantially in the plane and a closedposition in which the opposing panels are substantially perpendicular tothe plane; b) a first unitary plastic partial tray attached to the firstopposing panel at a first end, the first partial tray having: i) aplanar surface forming a periphery and a substantially semi-circularrecess opening to the periphery on a first side; ii) a rosette locatedcentrally within the semi-circular recess for engaging a centralaperture of a disc; iii) a spacing rim upstanding from the planarsurface, the spacing rim including a lateral side opposing the firstside and two transverse sides, the lateral and opposing sides being nearthe periphery; and iv) a male projection; and c) a second unitaryplastic partial tray attached to the second opposing panel at a secondend opposing the first end, the second partial tray having: i) a planarsurface forming a periphery and a substantially semi-circular recessopening to the periphery on a first side; ii) a rosette locatedcentrally within the semi-circular recess for engaging a centralaperture of a disc such that the rosettes are substantially co-axial inthe closed position; iii) a spacing rim upstanding from the planarsurface, the spacing rim including a lateral side opposing the firstside and two transverse sides, the lateral and opposing sides being nearthe periphery; and iv) a female receptable for engaging the maleprojection to selectively retain the package closed.